Abuja: The Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission has initiated a three-day series of events to commemorate the 2026 Africa Day in Abuja on Saturday. The festivities began with a ‘Liberation Walk’ from the Jabi Lake Mall to the Jabi Lake Waterfront and back, drawing participants from numerous sectors, including the diplomatic community, students, pan-African civil society groups, and volunteers.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Africa Day, observed every May 25, celebrates the establishment of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) on May 25, 1963. This year’s event is themed ‘Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation System to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.’ Dr Steven Ben-Joel, Global President of the mission, emphasized the commemoration as a continental call to action addressing the continent’s challenges and prospects.
In alignment with this year’s theme, the mission inaugurated a water project in the Garam community, Niger State, near Bwari. Ben-Joel declared that t
he project partially fulfills the AU Agenda 2063’s commitment to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), urging the community to safeguard the project from theft or vandalism.
Baba Sallah, a Garam community leader in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger, expressed excitement and enthusiasm for the initiative. He highlighted how the project alleviates the community’s water access challenges, freeing up time previously spent in search of water for drinking and cultivation. Sallah hopes for the facility’s continued maintenance and praised the organization for the impactful project.
Following this, the African Digital Trade Centre – Pan-African Continental Super-Marketplace (PAC-SM) was officially launched. Organizers described PAC-SM as a technology-driven platform connecting buyers and sellers across Africa, facilitating seamless trade, partnerships, and market access across borders. The platform also integrates finance, logistics, compliance, and education into a single ecosystem.
Dr Patrick Ugboma, Chairman
of PAC-SM, explained that the marketplace was created to support intra-African trade, promote African products, and connect producers to markets. He underscored its role in realizing the African Continental Free Trade Area and the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063.
Dr Ben-Joel, at the inauguration, noted that the platform distinguishes itself from other digital marketplaces through its practical and pan-African approach. He emphasized Africa’s potential as the largest continental trade destination by countries, with a potential $3 trillion trade volume, highlighting the importance of leveraging this potential to create prosperity for Africans.